This language is either Ilnu-aimun or Innu-aimun depending on the dialect. It is the easternmost grouping of dialects of the Cree-Naskapi-Montagnais chain. This language is very closely related to Kawawachikamach Naskapi and East Cree, but the Innu are politically a distinct nation.

Both the central Montagnais l-dialects and the eastern Montagnais n-dialects use a Roman orthogarphy. This writing system does not regularly indicate vowel length, although this can be written with a circumflex accent. The only additional letter is the superscript ᵘ which appears only at the end of words.

Note: There are several Roman Orthography conventions on this site that may require further explanation. On the charts below, there is lots of phonetic terminology that may not be familiar to everyone.  

The Canadian Census counts 11,815 Montagnais-Naskapi speakers in 2006, up from 10,470 speakers in 2001.

Community Names

• For phonological purposes, long vowels can be written with a cîrcumflex accent: ‹â, î, û›. The vowel /e/ is always long, so the orthography does not require a circumflex over this vowel.
• The /l/ sound is only in central Montagnais. Eastern dialects have replaced this sound with /n/. This is the difference between the ethnonyms Ilnu and Innu.
• The /h/ is only written by some eastern dialects. This sound also exists in Mashteuiatch, but is not indicated in writing.
• The /s/ is always written double ‹ss› in central dialects.
• /tsh/ is pronouned (and written) /ts/ in Mushuau Innu.

Last Update: September 17, 2009